It was only later, while looking for his mother’s wedding ring to present to Sophie on bended knee, that he uncovered the horrifying truth. For months afterwards, he’d teetered on the edge of shock and horror, his innocence shorn away in a single blow. The loving father’s mask stripped off to reveal the sadistic grin and bloodstained hands.

Dearest Sophie. How he’d loved her. So much so that the kindest thing was to send her away. What type of devil would wish to burden a wife – or a child – with such a past?

In forty years, he’d found nothing to ease the pain. While the months in Asia, locked away in a Tibetan monastery, had provided a small measure of solace, he’d emerged to find that nothing had changed. The ghosts of the past would always be there, waiting to greet him wherever he went. The money he donated to a charity in Poland for survivors of the Holocaust did little to assuage his grief. No amount of self-recrimination, or good deeds, had the power to raise the dead.

* * *

Gessen lifted his travel bag from the overhead rack, ten minutes before the train pulled into the tiny station at Saint-Odile. He was anxious to get home after the onerous trip to Copenhagen to argue Vidor’s case, but the journey through the mountains seemed to take longer than usual. Each time he looked at his watch, the minute hand had scarcely budged. Darkness had fallen hours ago. Nearly nine o’clock and the patients would be in their rooms, the library and swimming pavilion shut, the clinic closed down for the day.

When he’d spoken to Ursula after landing in Geneva, she assured him everything was fine. Vidor had chosen to take the evening meal in his room, but he seemed in good spirits. The other patients were where they should be, and all was quiet. ‘It’s so pretty right now,’ Ursula said. ‘The snow-covered chalets would look right at home in the window of a pastry shop.’

‘You’ll miss it when you’re gone.’

‘I will.’ Her voice was tinged with sadness.

No more needed to be said about that. He told her he’d see her shortly, and after cutting the connection, he muted his phone and closed his eyes.